Lens mounting



Oct. 12, 1937. c BURGESS 2,095,657

LENS MOUNTING Filed Aug. 17, 1936 j; %W W a f/; fizz? e5;

Patented Oct. 12, 1937 PATENT OFFICE LENS MOUNTING Charles F. Burgess,Bokeelia, Fla., assignor to Burgess Battery Company, Freeport, 111., acorporation of Wisconsin Application August 17, 1936, Serial No. 96,330

1 Claim.

My invention relates to means for mounting alens at the open end of areflector by means of a ring made of rubber or similar flexible materialand especially reflectors and lenses used on battery lanterns and handlamps.

The objects of my invention are to provide, by means of a. groovedrubber lens ring which en-. velops the marginal portion of the reflectorand marginal portion of the lens, a simple and easy method of removingthe lens from the open end of the reflector to permit replacement of thebulb, a weatherproof connection between the lens and the reflector, anda construction which serves as a bumper or shock absorber to protect thelens and reflector or reflector housing.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdetailed description which is to be taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, wherein;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hand lantern incorporating the rubberlens ring of my invenion;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the rubber lens ring,lens and reflector on 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view of one form of the groovedrubber ring of my invention;

Figs. 4, 5, and 6 show enlarged partial sectional views of constructionsto which my invention has been applied.

In the conventional types of battery operated hand lamps the lensusually is mounted in a lamp casing at one end of the tubular batteryhousing, for example as illustrated in Charles F. Burgess Patents Nos.1,403,538 and 1,336,067. Various types of construction are used formounting the lens in the lamp casing. Similar methods are used formounting the lens in battery operated hand lanterns. In theseconstructions it has been difficult to mount the lens so that theconnection may be made weatherproof by inexpensive means.

I have found that I may simplify the constructionof battery hand lampsand obtain a weatherproof connection between the reflector or reflectorhousing and the lens by means of a resilient grooved rubber ring.

In the conventional types of construction any shock or blow on the edgeof the end cap or the metal clamp is transmitted to the lens and maycause it to shatter. The'blow may be of sulficient force to mar anddeform the edge of the end cap or clamp and even mar or deformthe-reflector. The rubber ring withstands severe shocks and protects thelens and the reflector against the ordinary abuse to which hand lampsare subjected.

The rubber ring may be of square or rectangular or any other suitableradial section having a suitable interior groove adapted to receive andenvelop the marginal portion of the lens and the lens supporting surfaceor flange. I prefer a ring I provided with a tapered groove2, forming aninteriorly grooved or channel-shaped radial section as shown in Fig. 3.The edges of the channel flanges are preferably reenforced by formingthese edges as beads 3 and 4. These reenforcing beads prevent tearing ofthe edges of the channel flanges when the ring is stretched inpositioning the ring over the edges of the lens and the lens supportingflange. The beads fit snugly against the lens and supporting flangethereby urging them toward each other and also serve to effect aweatherproof connection between the channel flanges and the lens andreflector. 0

Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a battery operated hand lantern equipped with amodification of the lens supporting construction. The lantern comprisesa battery housing l3 provided with a carrying handle l4 and a lamphousing l5 mounted on one side of battery housing l3 by any suitablemeans. The lamp housing comprises a reflector 8 which is provided with aflange 9 having a rim or edge portion l0. The diameter of lens II isapproximately the same as the internal diameter of the rim and fitswithin the rim. Grooved rubber ring l2 envelops the marginal portion oflens II, and

supporting flange 9 and rim ID.

The reflector may be parabolic, spherical or of other suitable form. InFig. 4 the reflector 5 is parabolic in shape and is provided with anoutturned flanged edge 6 at-its open end to serve as a lens supportingsurface. Any desired type of lens may be used. Lens 1 is supported byflange 6. I have found that the silvered surface of the reflectorbecomes tarnished readily if the grooved rubber ring is allowed tocontact the edge of the reflector flange. This undesirable contact ispre-' vented preferably by using a lens having a slightly largerdiameter than the diameter of the reflector flange as illustrated inFig. 4 which thereby prevents the grooved rubber ring from coming incontact with the edge of the reflector flange.

'Ring I6 is positioned over'the edge of lens I and the edge of reflectorflange 6 in such a manner heads I! and I 8 form a weatherproofconnection between lens 1 and reflector flange 6, respectively. In aspecific example, the diameter of the reflector flange is 4% inches, thediameter of the lens is 4% inches and the outside diameter of thegrooved rubber ring is 4% inches, the web of the channel shaped sectionof the ring being 1 3' inch in thickness.

In assembling a hand lamp embodying my grooved rubber ring, the lens isheld in place at the open end of the reflector and in contact with thesupporting flange. The grooved ring is then placed in position along aportion of the periphery of the lens and supporting flange by spreadingapart the channel flanges of the grooved ring. The ring is graduallyworked along the edges of the lens and supporting flange and finallystretched to completely envelop the marginal portion of the lens and thesupporting flange.

Although I prefer to use the construction as illustrated in Figs. 2 and4 and thereby eliminate the usual reflector housing, my invention may beused in the conventional head construction as illustrated in Fig. 5 inwhich a reflector housing is used. Reflector housing 29 is threaded orotherwise attached to the barrel of the case and is provided with a lenssupporting flange 30. The flange 33 of reflector 28 is held between thelens supporting flange 30 and the outer or rim portion of the lens 3|.The grooved rubber lens ring 32 is slipped over the assembled lens,reflector and reflector housing and urges them toward each other tothereby form a securely held assembled unit.

In Fig. 6 the reflector or lens support 34 and lens 35 are held by therubber lens ring 36. In this form the lens edge is turned or bent overand butts against a rim portion 31 of the reflector or lens support.This construction also prevents 0 contact between the rubber lens ringand the silvered portion of the reflector.

The specific constructions illustrated may be modified in various ways.For example, the lens may be of various types in order to obtain aconcentration of the light or a dispersion of the light. The lenssecuring ring of my invention may be applied to various types of lampcasings used in flashlight cases, a few illustrative constructions beingshown in United States Patents Nos. 1,336,067, 1,397,646, 1,403,538, and1,421,399.

Although my invention finds its greatest utility in supporting a lens ona reflector in hand lamps and lanterns, it may be used Wherever it isdesirable to unite a lens with a support adjacent its edge portion, forexample, in gauges and other instruments in which plain glass faces orlenses are used. Although rubber is at the present time the mostdesirable material that may be used for the grooved member, othermaterials having similar properties also may be used.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention isnot limited to the particular examples herein shown and described but iscapable of numerous additional modifications and variations. Therefore,I do not wish to be limited except by the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

The combination of a concave reflector having an out-turnedlens-supporting flange at its periphery, a lens supported by saidflange, the diameter of said lens being greater than the diameter ofsaid flange, and a tensioned interiorly grooved rubber ring envelopingthe adjacent marginal Dortions of said lens and flange, said marginalportions being within said groove, said grooved rubber member being ofsuch shape that it fits snugly against said lens and support flange andurges them toward each other and having integral rubber reinforcingbeads flanking the mouth of said groove.

CHARLES F. BURGESS.

